—Jan 6— If Jason Servis, trainer of race favorite, World of Trouble, intended the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park to be an easy prep for the Tampa Bay Derby in March, he was mistaken. His over-achieving colt, a $10,000 purchase at the August, 2016 Ocala Breeders’ Sale, could do no better than third.

As it happened, Servis wasn’t the only trainer using the race as a springboard to a more lucrative future. The winner, Quip, was also using the race as a prep race for the Tampa Bay Derby. In Quip’s case, though, the plan is even more complicated. Before the race, trainer Rodolphe Brisset said he intends to use the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in February as a prep for the Tampa Bay Derby followed by the Arkansas Derby and finally, with luck, the Kentucky Derby in May. If his colt’s victory in the Mucho Macho Stakes is any indication, Brisset’s plan seems to be working.

—Jan 6— Isotherm and Flavian Prat rallied past Flamboyant down the stretch to win the $201,725 Grade II San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Disregarded by bettors, Isotherm paid $19.70 to win.

Meanwhile, the heavy favorite in the race, Itsinthepost, finished third after breaking well then flattening out in the latter stages.

Editore finished fourth followed by He Will and Top of the Game, both longshots.

—Jan 6— McKinzie shook free from My Boy Jack and Shivermetimbers leaving the turn and drew out to a comfortable two-and-a-half length win in the 18^th running of the Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Equipped with blinkers for the first time, the talented Street Sense colt put in workman-like effort; except for the moment heading into the stretch when My Boy Jack and Shivermetimbers drew to even terms, the race was never seriously in doubt.

McKinzie is expected to make his next start in the $400,000 Grade II San Felipe stakes here in March.

Aside from McKinzie, one of the more interesting stories entering the race was My Boy Jack, who finished second, a neck in front of Shivermetimbers. A $20,000 yearling who competed mostly on the grass as a juvenile, My Boy Jack was a somewhat surprising entrant in the race, but trainer Keith Desormeaux decided to take a chance and run him on the dirt.

“It’s a sheer gamble to see if My Boy Jack is worth his weight on the faster dirt surface, but this is the time of the year to figure that out,” Desormeaux said before the race.

It was a gamble that seemed to pay-off. By all accounts, Desormeaux was pleased with his colt’s effort. Plans are for My Boy Jack to remain on the Derby trail with his next start most likely coming in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February.

Jerry Hollendorfer, the trainer of the third-place finisher, Shivermetimbers, seemed pleased with his horse’s performance as well, suggesting he would likely target the Robert B. Lewis here in early February for his colt’s next start. All Out Blitz finished fourth, a length behind Shivermetimbers, and was followed by Mourinho and Lombo.